Shaker



D. F. ARMOUR Oct. 26, 1965 SHAKER 2 Sheets -Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1963IA A 1 DONALD F. ARMOUR INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY- D. F. ARMOUR Oct. 26, 1965 SHAKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.17, 1963 DONALD F. ARMOUR INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,214,068 SHAKER Donald F. Armour, Bloomfield,Conn., assignor to Monsanto Company, a corporation of Delaware FiledDec. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 331,177 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-486) The presentinvention relates generally to a novel container useful in dispensingpowders, granules, or the like, and more specifically to a new anduseful powder shaker which has the combined advantages of simplicity,economy, and ease in assembly and filling.

Dispensers made of resinous polymeric materials have become ofimportance in the field of packaging in recent years. These plasticcontainers are now finding applications in the dry product market,particularly in use as shakers for powder and granulated materials, suchas baby powder, cosmetics, seasonings, and the like. The majority of theshakers presently in commercial use suffer from several disadvantages,including elaborate preassembly requirements, unusual filling lineassembly restrictions, and high cost. In addition, the commerciallyavailable containers, due to the attempt to obtain a maximum sizedorifice to facilitate filling of the containers, are often susceptibleto sifting during shipment.

It has been found that the container constructed in accordance with thepresent invention overcomes all these disadvantages of the prior art,particularly in regard to economy and simplicity of construction.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a receptacle foruse in a shaker formed of a synthetic plastic material and containing atubular neck having annular indentations in the rim of the neck adaptedto cooperate with a closure to produce a uniquely useful shaker.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a closure for areceptacle suitable for slidingly engaging the tubular neck of thereceptacle, said closure having a stop block positioned on its innersurface which cooperates with a peripheral indented projection on theneck of the receptacle to provide limited rotational movement of theclosure on the tubular neck.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide the art with asimple and economical shaker having a one-piece closure and having allthe prerequisites for a commercially feasible, readily assembleddispenser.

The invention will be best understood from the following descriptionread in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser constructed inaccordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line A-A showing thedispenser in a condition allowing access to its contents.

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line AA showing thereceptacle in a sealed condition.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthe closure.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthe receptacle of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating another embodimentof the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating still anotherembodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates the shaker of thisinvention in cross-sectional view designated generally as 1. Thecontainer walls may assume any useful shape. Extending from the top wallof the retainer is a tubular neck 2 having an indentation 3 along itsrim. This indentation may be of any suitable length and may, if desired,consist of several indentations spaced along the rim in random fashion.Two indentations placed on opposite sides of the rim as indicated inFIG- URE 5 are usually suflicient. These indentations serve as conduitsfor the powder from the receptacle to perforations 4 in closure 5. Thesecond indentation 3 shown in FIGURE 5 is employed to accommodate asecond set of perforations 4 in the top of the closure. Thus, each setof perforations 4 is provided an indentation 3 that serves as a conduitfor the powder from the receptacle to the perforations. In addition, thesharp corners of the indentation wipe the powder clean from the topsurface when the cap is rotated. The neck is further characterized by aperipheral projection or bead 6 integral with the neck having one ormore, indentations 7 therein. This indentation serves as a groove toreceive stop block 8 positioned on the inner surface of closure 5,thereby impeding full rotational movement of the closure around theperiphery of neck 2. The indentations 7 may be of any length providedsufiicient rotational movement can be imparted to the closure to allowperforations 4 to register with the opening provided in the rim byindentation 3. It is preferred that the bead 6 have indentations onopposite sides of the neck as illustrated in FIGURE 5. Closure 5 will,accordingly, have two corresponding stop blocks as indicated in FIGURE 4to accommodate the indentations.

Closure 5 is additionally provided with a ring 9 so that, upon forcingthe closure into sliding engagement with the rim of the neck, ring 9will move into locking engagement with bead 6 thereby preventing axialmovement of the closure. This requires little pressure due to theresiliency of the plastic material, yet produces a strong blocking andsealing mechanism capable of with standing the normal abuse encounteredin shipping and in actual use. Ring 9 also functions as a sealing ringto prevent powder from sifting from the skirt of the cap.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, the closure and neck are illustratedin an open and closed position. As can be readily seen, stop block 8restricts rotational motion between the edges of indentation 3,designated 10 and 11. The contents of the receptacle become accessibleby rotation of the closure cap. The corners of the indentation serve theadditional function of wiping powder clean from the top surface when thecap is rotated to the closed position shown in FIGURE 3. The closure canbe snapped onto the bottle in any position and rotated clockwise untilthe stop block positions itself within the grooves of the bead, therebyavoiding any necessity for orientating the closure with receptacle priorto assembly. To assure a positive closed position, the closure is merelyrotated upon positioning the stop blocks in the grooves.

The indentations in the peripheral bead are preferably aligned with theindentations in the neck rim, however, this is by no means necessary.For example, FIGURE 6 illustrates a tubular neck having the beadindentations out of alignment with the rim indentations. This, ofcourse, requires a corresponding realignment of the stop blocks withinthe closure surface. It is only necessary that upon rotation of theclosure, the stop blocks engage the edge of the indentation and thecontents of the receptacle are either fully accessible or inaccessible.

It is also possible to provide indentations on the lower periphery ofthe bead rather than in the upper periphery as shown in FIGURE 7. Thiswould merely require a corresponding lowering of the stop block in theinner surface of the closure to register with the indentations in thehead.

The receptacle itself can obviously assume any of numerous shapes, forexample, the receptacle may consist merely of a bottom wall having sideswhich converge into the neck of the receptacle. Also, the receptaclemay, if desired, be simply an open-ended container having indentationsalong its rim thereby eliminating the necessity for a neck portion. 'Inthis event, the shaker closure would accommodate the walls of thereceptacle itself in the same manner as that indicated for a receptaclehaving a neck portion.

Obviously, the perforation in closure 5 can assume a variety of shapes,depending upon the type of material to be poured and the particular userequirements of the material. For example, the closure might moredesirably have a spout or funnel in place of the series of smallperforations shown in the drawings. Also, indentations 7 may, ifdesired, be cut completely through the peripheral projection or bead 6,though this arrangement would weaken the combined sealing action of thebead and seal ring.

While in the foregoing specification, specific structures have been setout in specific detail for the purpose of illustrating the invention, itwill be understood that such details of the structure may be variedwidely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthis invention.

What is claimed is:

A shaker for dispensing powder granules or the like formed of asynthetic plastic material comprising: a bottom wall; a top wall; a sidewall in contiguity with said top and bottom walls, said top wall havingan opening defined by a tubular neck having at least one indentation inthe rim of said neck, said indentation extending completely through theneck wall at the rim and partially around the periphery thereof, aperipheral annular bead integral with said neck, said annular beadhaving at least one groove therein; and a closure of unitaryconstruction having openings in the top thereof and a depending skirt inrotational sliding engagement with said neck; said closure including asealing ring on its periphery that coacts with the underside of saidannular bead to prevent axial movement of the closure with respect tothe neck; at least one stop block integral with said closure on itsinner surface and adapted to engage said groove of the annular bead toimpede full rotational movement of the closure and said openings in saidclosure adapted to be aligned with said indentation to dispensematerials from said shaker through said openings.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 165,670 7/75Goodwin et al. 222--553 1,956,764 5/34 Johnston 222-553 X 2,619,26611/52 McDonald 222548 2,873,896 2/59 Swartz 222-548 2,970,724 2/ 61 Lacy222-548 X 3,029,003 4/62 Gronemeyer 222548 X FOREIGN PATENTS 299,656 11/ 28 Great Britain. 583,361 10/58 Italy.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

